PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — If you’ve noticed a distinct chlorine odor coming from your tap water in Port St. Lucie lately, you’re not alone. Residents have been reporting a stronger smell, which is due to a routine, yearly initiative by the city’s water department.
The culprit is a program called “free chlorine” treatment. Typically, ammonia is used in conjunction with chlorine at water treatment plants to help neutralize the chlorine’s smell before it reaches your faucet. However, during this “free chlorine” period, the ammonia is temporarily removed from the process.
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